No, this is not a CIA certificate of appreciation for a Pakistani politician
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on November 28, 2018 at 15:15
- 2 min read
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The doctored certificate was shared in a November 25 Facebook post with a caption saying: “Looks like Dr Musadik Malik of PMLN (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) is a CIA agent.”
The image has also been shared on Twitter and through WhatsApp messages.
Here is a screenshot of a photograph of Malik and the doctored certificate being shared on WhatsApp:
Malik is a close aide of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
A Google reverse image search showed that the certificate is an edited version of a generic CIA certificate that is available for sale online for $19.95 through this website.
The version in the misleading Facebook post has been edited to insert Malik’s name and the “Kabul, Afghanistan” location has been deleted.
The code of numbers running across the bottom of the doctored certificate is identical to the code of numbers on the certificate on the printing shop website.
Both certificates say: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE - XO - 9A/S967G - 1(DDU) T2 L3
The date on the two certificates -- 6 September, 2010 -- is also the same.
Other versions of the doctored certificate have appeared online, for example here on Twitter with the name of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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